As I remember, Doug was voted President of the class of '65 all four years of High School. After school, he wasn't sure what he wanted to pursue in college. So he decided to get his military service out of the way. He joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. He had the brains, but his eyes did not allow him to be a helicopter pilot. So Doug vowed to become the youngest helicopter crew chief in the army. I think he achieved that goal. He had about two weeks remaining in his two years of service when his chopper was blown out of the air. Doug Dell was a hell of a good guy.
Doug Dell, what a gentleman! I was friends with his sisters Sue and Vickie (was a bridesmaid at Vickie's wedding at the USAFA Cadet Chapel) and was in his parents Black Forest home regularly. I remember how proud they were that he was in the service! He was shot down in a helicopter during the Viet Nam war. It was a horrible time for the family and in attending the funeral it brought death close to me in a way I never knew before.
My Class Yearbook 1969, at my request being on the yearbook staff, was dedicated to his honor and given the theme "To everything there is a season, a time to be born, a time to live and a time to die...."
I think of Doug all of the time. He was a patriot and a model citizen. We met when I moved to Black Forest at the age of nine. Doug and I first bumped into each other when we were walking near the back of our parent's properties which abutted one another. It was just after a fairly heavy snow and Doug was shaking trees to dislodge snow from their branches. For some reason, to this day I still have that mental image burned in my brain. He was very friendly to his new neighbor and we remained friends throughout our years together at Black Forest Elementary and AAHS ( there was no Jr. HIgh, per se, at that time). Just before he deployed to Viet Nam, a few of us got together to go to a movie - I think it was "How The West Was Won". Ray Hagan was there, and maybe my brother Jim, I just can't remember - CRS has set in - the old synapses just aren't clicken' like they used to. After the movie, we went to Giuseppi's for pizza and beer. We had a great time and that was the last time I saw my old friend. After Doug had been in-country for awhile, I received a letter from him. He was excited about having been approved for a transfer from his clerical position to join a helicopter unit as a crewman, probably a door-gunner. Guess he felt like he wasn't making a meaningful contribution. We know the rest of the story. What a loss. Doug lays at rest at Arlington National Cemetary. His mom moved back to the Springs a couple of years ago. She was in very good health when I last saw her. She resides at Liberty Heights off of Voyager Parkway and, if you're in the area, I know she would enjoy a visit.
Joseph (Jack) Mitchener (1965)
As I remember, Doug was voted President of the class of '65 all four years of High School. After school, he wasn't sure what he wanted to pursue in college. So he decided to get his military service out of the way. He joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. He had the brains, but his eyes did not allow him to be a helicopter pilot. So Doug vowed to become the youngest helicopter crew chief in the army. I think he achieved that goal. He had about two weeks remaining in his two years of service when his chopper was blown out of the air. Doug Dell was a hell of a good guy.Patti Adler (1969)
Doug Dell, what a gentleman! I was friends with his sisters Sue and Vickie (was a bridesmaid at Vickie's wedding at the USAFA Cadet Chapel) and was in his parents Black Forest home regularly. I remember how proud they were that he was in the service! He was shot down in a helicopter during the Viet Nam war. It was a horrible time for the family and in attending the funeral it brought death close to me in a way I never knew before.
My Class Yearbook 1969, at my request being on the yearbook staff, was dedicated to his honor and given the theme "To everything there is a season, a time to be born, a time to live and a time to die...."
Jonathan Nau (1965)
I think of Doug all of the time. He was a patriot and a model citizen. We met when I moved to Black Forest at the age of nine. Doug and I first bumped into each other when we were walking near the back of our parent's properties which abutted one another. It was just after a fairly heavy snow and Doug was shaking trees to dislodge snow from their branches. For some reason, to this day I still have that mental image burned in my brain. He was very friendly to his new neighbor and we remained friends throughout our years together at Black Forest Elementary and AAHS ( there was no Jr. HIgh, per se, at that time). Just before he deployed to Viet Nam, a few of us got together to go to a movie - I think it was "How The West Was Won". Ray Hagan was there, and maybe my brother Jim, I just can't remember - CRS has set in - the old synapses just aren't clicken' like they used to. After the movie, we went to Giuseppi's for pizza and beer. We had a great time and that was the last time I saw my old friend. After Doug had been in-country for awhile, I received a letter from him. He was excited about having been approved for a transfer from his clerical position to join a helicopter unit as a crewman, probably a door-gunner. Guess he felt like he wasn't making a meaningful contribution. We know the rest of the story. What a loss. Doug lays at rest at Arlington National Cemetary. His mom moved back to the Springs a couple of years ago. She was in very good health when I last saw her. She resides at Liberty Heights off of Voyager Parkway and, if you're in the area, I know she would enjoy a visit.
REST IN PEACE DOUG